Recount in the Book how Mary withdrew from her people to an eastern place 16 So there she screened herself from them; We therefore sent Our Spirit towards her – he appeared before her in the form of a healthy man. (Angel Jibreel – peace be upon him.) 17 Mary exclaimed: "I surely take refuge from you with the Most Compassionate Lord, if you are at all God-fearing." 18 He said: I am but a messenger from thy Lord that I may bestow on thee a boy pure. 19 She said, "How can I have a son when no man has touched me; and neither have I been unchaste?" 20 He said: "So (it will be): Thy Lord saith, 'that is easy for Me: and (We wish) to appoint him as a Sign unto men and a Mercy from Us': It is a matter (so) decreed." 21 ۞ And she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a far place. 22 Then the pangs of childbirth brought her to the base of the palm-tree; she said, “Oh, if only had I died before this and had become forgotten, unremembered.” 23 But a voice called out to her from below, "Do not despair. Your Lord has provided a brook that runs at your feet, 24 "And shake the trunk of date-palm towards you, it will let fall fresh ripe-dates upon you." 25 So eat and drink and refresh the eye. Then if you see any mortal, say: Surely I have vowed a fast to the Beneficent Allah, so I shall not speak to any man today. 26 Then she brought the child to her people. They exclaimed: "O Mary, you have done a most astonishing thing! 27 "O sister (i.e. the like) of Harun (Aaron) [not the brother of Musa (Moses), but he was another pious man at the time of Maryam (Mary)]! Your father was not a man who used to commit adultery, nor your mother was an unchaste woman." 28 So she pointed to him. They said, "How can we speak to one who is in the cradle a child?" 29 He said, 'Lo, I am God's servant; God has given me the Book, and made me a Prophet. 30 and has blessed me wherever I might be and has enjoined upon me Prayer and Zakah (purifying alms) as long as I live; 31 and has made me dutiful to my mother. He has not made me oppressive, nor bereft of God's blessings. 32 Peace be upon me, the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I am raised up alive!' 33 Such is 'lsa, son of Maryam: this is the word of truth wherein they are doubting. 34 God is too Exalted to have a son. When He decides to bring some thing into existence He needs only command it to exist and it comes into existence. 35 And [thus it was that Jesus always said]: "Verily, God is my Sustainer as well as your Sustainer; so worship [none but] Him: this [alone] is a straight way." 36 The sects among them differ: but woe unto the disbelievers from the meeting of an awful Day. 37 How well they will hear and see on the day they come to Us! But the evildoers even today are in error manifest. 38 Warn them of the woeful day when the final decree will be issued; they are neglectful and faithless. 39 For We shall inherit the earth and all that are on it. To Us, they shall return. 40